The Santana Trophy kicks off on the 26th of April, and this week marks the final stretch of preparation before the journey begins. With just days to go, the team focused on getting Purdey truly rally-ready—testing, tweaking, packing, and patching up the last bits of this epic build.
The episode opens with a proper road trip to get some miles under her belt and spot any final teething issues. Of course, Purdey didn’t let us down—she delivered a surprise roadside drama when a frayed earth wire caused a complete electrical shutdown. But a quick bodge fix got the team home, and the issue made its way onto the to-do list.
From there, it was full steam ahead: the original Defender handbrake proved useless once harnessed in, so the team installed a much more ergonomic Disco handbrake—an absolute game-changer.
A second dashboard panel took shape to house rally-critical equipment like the Terra Trip and IR Track system.
The team also scouted metal, scavenged parts from Priscilla and Lulu, installed recovery points, checked wheel alignment and carefully packed gear (including a fridge, compressor, toolboxes, and recovery kit) into every spare inch.
Rain returned to highlight Purdey’s very Land Rover-like leaks, prompting an unplanned return to the workshop for drying out and sealing.
Despite the water, the excitement is building. Next stop: Spain, then on to Morocco. It’s almost time!